A little ray of spring

We have been experiencing a cold and wet winter - which is wonderful. J and I just adore the cold.

On Saturday it was almost like spring - the kids spent the day out doors. I pulled out a few weeds - amazing how good that made me feel!

Kd whipped his clothes off and Hj organised a picnic!

A little ray of spring

We have been experiencing a cold and wet winter - which is wonderful. J and I just adore the cold.

On Saturday it was almost like spring - the kids spent the day out doors. I pulled out a few weeds - amazing how good that made me feel!

Kd whipped his clothes off and Hj organised a picnic!

Tree Planting back in the Day

My darling brother sent me through these images of tree planting back in the early '90s when we were still on the farm at Dingee. Must be a forest there now.









Mum started it all of course and had a green house/hot house of little seedlings from seeds she collected herself. It was normal for us to travel with recycled paper bags and collect seeds from trees Mum admired on our family outings. Little brown packets of shakers drying in the car and the dresser in the kitchen.

I remember one time she made a commitment to going for a walk each day and took at least one tree with her to plant.

Thomas Fuller (1654 - 1734) said "He (or she!)who plants a tree loves other beside himself."

I am planning to get involved in this tree growing project once we are in our new home.

Tree Planting back in the Day

My darling brother sent me through these images of tree planting back in the early '90s when we were still on the farm at Dingee. Must be a forest there now.









Mum started it all of course and had a green house/hot house of little seedlings from seeds she collected herself. It was normal for us to travel with recycled paper bags and collect seeds from trees Mum admired on our family outings. Little brown packets of shakers drying in the car and the dresser in the kitchen.

I remember one time she made a commitment to going for a walk each day and took at least one tree with her to plant.

Thomas Fuller (1654 - 1734) said "He (or she!)who plants a tree loves other beside himself."

I am planning to get involved in this tree growing project once we are in our new home.

Making thank you love to post & something TOP secret

Mum made an effort with us kiddies to write thank you letters after Christmas and our birthday to our extended family - who ALWAYS spoilt us to bits.

I have been trying for the last few weeks to find some time after Hj's and Kd's birthday to encourage them to do the same.

As always my activities as a mother (who isn't really) have been inspired by Amanda Soule and her first book The Creative Family. She writes: "In our age of email, it feels wonderful and special to receive a hand-written note, doesn't it? As much as possible, we make a point of sending thank-you cards, not just as gifts, but also for gestures of kindness, time and love. I'm careful not to force this on my children, but to make it something they are motivated to be a part of, or I just do it myself without much fuss..."

So on this occasion Hj decorated the cards inspired by using stamps and sticky tape and Kd was bribed to sign his name with a bowl of after-tea muesli.

Making thank you love to post & something TOP secret

Mum made an effort with us kiddies to write thank you letters after Christmas and our birthday to our extended family - who ALWAYS spoilt us to bits.

I have been trying for the last few weeks to find some time after Hj's and Kd's birthday to encourage them to do the same.

As always my activities as a mother (who isn't really) have been inspired by Amanda Soule and her first book The Creative Family. She writes: "In our age of email, it feels wonderful and special to receive a hand-written note, doesn't it? As much as possible, we make a point of sending thank-you cards, not just as gifts, but also for gestures of kindness, time and love. I'm careful not to force this on my children, but to make it something they are motivated to be a part of, or I just do it myself without much fuss..."

So on this occasion Hj decorated the cards inspired by using stamps and sticky tape and Kd was bribed to sign his name with a bowl of after-tea muesli.

Tree Planting

Chilly but good stuff - tree planting community day.

5,000 trees were planted. We planted 4 of those, ate 4 hamburgers and 4 sausages, tea and coffee and ample colouring in.

Tree planting was hindered on our behalf by toilet stops, iceypoles and arguments over who uses the larger shovel. I wonder if my children managed to connect with mother nature at all?

I reminisced to our family's tree planting days on the farm and remember how boring and cold they were - but I would give anything to do that again.

Tree Planting

Chilly but good stuff - tree planting community day.

5,000 trees were planted. We planted 4 of those, ate 4 hamburgers and 4 sausages, tea and coffee and ample colouring in.

Tree planting was hindered on our behalf by toilet stops, iceypoles and arguments over who uses the larger shovel. I wonder if my children managed to connect with mother nature at all?

I reminisced to our family's tree planting days on the farm and remember how boring and cold they were - but I would give anything to do that again.